Keyboard Encoder Comparison Pages Online!

[Tiger-Heli]

I posted a comparison of all the available keyboard encoders.  Here is a run-down:

http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/encoder/
(This is the main page, all the other pages are pretty much linked from this)  Basically this walks you through deciding what encoder you need and compares the features of each one.
 
http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/encoder/keyassignments.htm  This shows what keys can be used to get the most mileage out of each encoder and is also a good reference for how shared inputs can be used in different games.
 
http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/encoder/shiftkeys.htm
This has a detailed explanation of encoder shift keys and particularly, how the KeyWiz Shazaaam! function differs from the I-PAC shift function.
 
http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/encoder/nocodeload.htm
(This explains how to disable the alternate codeset swapping function of the KeyWiz)
 
http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/encoder/startkey.htm
This explains how to use coin inputs only (without start inputs) to gain four more encoder inputs in MAME.
 
http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/encoder/pausekey.htm
(This explains how to use diodes to connect a button to activate both UP and DOWN simultaneously to gain 4 additional encoder inputs.)
 
http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/encoder/gamepad/Hacking%20a%20Dualshock%20PSOne%20pad,%20good%20411.htm
BYOAC thread by armad1llo on hacking Dual shock pads, mirrored locally.
 
http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/encoder/hagstrom_%20ke-72_led/LED%20support%20with%20Hagstrom%20KE72%20(pics).htm
BYOAC thread by sasquatch on KE-72LED wiring.  Mirrored to preserve pictures.

Thanks to everyone on the board who helped with this.

[BobA]

Thanks for all the work in bringing  this together.   My head is still spinning from a quick read so will have to digest it bit by bit.

BobA

[Tiger-Heli]

Thanks for all the work in bringing  this together.   My head is still spinning from a quick read so will have to digest it bit by bit.

BobA

Yeah, it's a pretty big elephant.  Thanks for the compliments.

[jakejake28]

WOW... this oughta be put on the main page, i mean, with all the questions about keyboard encoders, this'll cut a helluva lot of clutter from the forums.
great job, man...

[SirPoonga]

Submit it as news.

[Apollo]

What a great resource. You have done exceptionally well.
Thankyou and very well done  

[Tiger-Heli]

Submit it as news.

How???

Also, I updated much of the info.  Here's a summary, but I might miss some things:

All schematics revised - the NC and NO switch contacts were physically in the wrong place.  The wiring was correct, but not the way the switches actually looked.  Now it's correct both ways.

index.html - Revised "keys to avoid" to add the scancodes sent to the buffer, add additional "bad keys", and provide more details.  Added a reference and local mirror to Allroy1975's thread on using PPJoy for games that only accept joystick input.  Added many details to the USB vs. PS/2 section.  Revised the software section to provide greater detail and to explain which OS's each software supports.

pausekey.html - Revised to show this only works for MAME R36B12 and up (when AND sequences were added).  Added Lilwolf's recommendation of using NOT sequences to prevent accidental keypresses.

nocodeload.html - Added an introductory paragraph to show this is only really a problem for 4-player panels.  Revised the behavior with prioritized stealth-shifted Shazaaam! inputs for clarity and correctness.  (The wiring was right, but the function of the various buttons was described incorrectly).

Thanks to all and enjoy!

[jcoleman]

TigerHeli,

What I've read so far looks good...but tell me if I've missed this...

MAME can be set up to use shifted input on it's own, i.e., "left shift and 5 not right shift," or something like that.  Seems that would be of use to folks using a keyboard hack.  (like me)  Of course, this could involve a ridiculous amount of wiring...and anyone using a keyboard hack already knows that you've got plenty of wires to begin with!  I believe this would generally be useful only for control keys, such as tab, esc, etc.

Like I say, I haven't read far enough to know if you've included this or not, so feel free to ignore me or give me 20 lashes with a wet PS/2 cable.

John

[paigeoliver]

Error in the "Reality check" section. Time Pilot has two buttons.

And you may want to account for the recently added game "Sprint 8" which has 24 analog axis' and at least 41 buttons (almost all of which are shifters and coin mechs). If you are playing with 2-way joysticks, and and on/off pedals instead of the excessive analog inputs, then you would need a minimum of 73 inputs, and this is assuming the game only has a single start button (I haven't checked yet, since they just added it).

[Tiger-Heli]

Error in the "Reality check" section. Time Pilot has two buttons.

And you may want to account for the recently added game "Sprint 8" which has 24 analog axis' and at least 41 buttons (almost all of which are shifters and coin mechs).

Time Pilot has one button:

http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/images/T/nTime_Pilot.jpg

Three if you count Fire, 1P Start, and 2P Start, but I wasn't.

Sprint 8 is an exception.  I will consider adding it, although I don't know how many people plan to support it on their cab.

[paigeoliver]

Dude, I have a Time Pilot machine in the same room as me, and wait, I forgot, mine has two buttons because I also have a Time Pilot '84 PCB for it, and, dang, I am an idiot.

You would pretty much have to MAKE a special cabinet to support that game. And I don't think you can currently install enough spinner/steering wheel devices to play it properly.

[Tiger-Heli]

TigerHeli,

What I've read so far looks good...but tell me if I've missed this...

MAME can be set up to use shifted input on it's own, i.e., "left shift and 5 not right shift," or something like that.  Seems that would be of use to folks using a keyboard hack.  (like me)  Of course, this could involve a ridiculous amount of wiring...and anyone using a keyboard hack already knows that you've got plenty of wires to begin with!  I believe this would generally be useful only for control keys, such as tab, esc, etc.

Like I say, I haven't read far enough to know if you've included this or not, so feel free to ignore me or give me 20 lashes with a wet PS/2 cable.

John

I briefly mention this at the end of the shiftkeys.htm page in the paragraph the starts "Eightbit".

For a keyboard hack, if you want dedicated buttons for Esc, Pause, Tab, just wire a button to this inputs.  They might have ghosting problems, but you're unlikely to need to press TAB along with two other buttons, so it doesn't matter.

You can't have a single button activate two keys with a keyboard hack b/c of the matrix nature of the kb.

You could use the method you describe to have a "Press this button and that button" functionality like the KeyWiz or I-PAC, but MAME will record the Shift key input first and then the combination key, if that makes sense.

[paigeoliver]

I just check Sprint 8. Either Mame has it wrong, or Sprint 8 did not have shifters like the other Sprints did. Judging by the way the computer cars take off, I would have to say the shifters are missing.

But, they way they have it in there it has 8 analog axis, and 25 buttons.